Legislation already exists which makes traditional espionage, such as sharing state secrets, a criminal offence. The problem is that espionage is changing in terms of its manifestations and use.
Espionage targets more than just state secrets. Indeed, foreign governments are also interested in sensitive information which is not a state secret about a particular economic sector, or which is related to political decision-making. Such information can be used to influence political processes, weaken the Dutch economy, or play allies off against each other.
Espionage may also involve activities other than sharing information, such as stealing high-tech know-how, sabotaging vital infrastructure, exerting an influence on political decision-making, or endangering Dutch citizens with a migration background. more